THUNDER SOUL tells the true story of Conrad O Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band

It was afros and pleated shirts; James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary funk powerhouse.

Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it.

This website is written and maintained by the filmmakers.
THUNDER SOUL will be screening at the Los Angeles International Film Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June!

  • Edinburgh - Friday, June 18. 8:20pm - Cineworld 3
  • Edinburgh - Saturday, June 19. 3:45pm - Cineworld 3
  • LAIFF - Saturday, June 26. 8:30pm - Ford Amphitheatre

For further Los Angeles International Film Festival details go to the THUNDER SOUL movie page on the LAIFF website.

For further Edinburgh International Film Festival details go to the THUNDER SOUL movie page on the Edinburgh website.

Other screening information will be published here when available.
THUNDER SOUL awards.

  • SXSW - Audience Award (Lone Star States)
  • Hot Docs - Audience Award
  • Los Angeles Film Festival - Audience Award
  • Dallas International Film Festival - Audience Award
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Kismet in Kashmere

“True musical masters are fortunetellers, truth-seekers; they see beyond the possible. Same could be said of teachers. Same could be said of filmmakers. This is the true story behind the coming-together of the documentary Thunder Soul, about the Kashmere Stage Band – a Houston high school jazz band – and the music director that led them.”

Kate Messer of the Austin Chronicle has written a wonderful article about the making of “Thunder Soul” and the legacy of Conrad Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band.

Music - Off The Record

The Austin Chronicle announces that the Kashmere Alumni Stage Band will be performing at their annual SXSW Film Bash party at La Zona Rosa on Monday March 15th. They’re also running a competition to give away tickets to the party.

Kashmere Stage Band documentary Thunder Soul to premiere at SXSW | Stones Throw Records

Stones Throw Records, the label that re-issued the awesome Kashmere Stage Band funk records, has announced the THUNDER SOUL premiere on their official blog.

Kashmere Stage Band: deep high school funk from the late 1960s - Boing Boing

Hugely popular and wonderful blog Boing Boing have just done a profile on the legendary Kashmere High School Stage Band. Author David Pescovitz calls the sound of Kashmere “deep, brilliant, big band funk.”

Josh Olson's Day 2 at SXSW: Behold the awe and might of THUNDER SOUL!

Academy Award nominated screenwriter Josh Olson has been covering SXSW for Aint It Cool News. This is his review of Thunder Soul. To call it positive would be an understatement. We’re honored such a great writer enjoyed our film.